What
are the Benefits of Regulated Trapping to the Public?
Article from Sep
- Oct 2004 Buckeye Trapper
by Justin
Tyler Walters
For the past hundred years there has been an ever increasing
interest in banning a practice that has been a part of the American
landscape since its founding. What I am referring to is the practice
of trapping in order to harvest furbearing animals and promote
wildlife management. I feel that trapping should be unconditionally
accepted and supported, when it is managed in the right manner
by local, state, and federal agencies. This regulated trapping
is of great benefit to the public. In the following paragraphs
I will support my opinion with actual facts and studies conducted
by wildlife biologists.
Today trapping is done as an annual pursuit by many people in
the United States and Canada. Many homeowners also use trapping
to deal with wildlife problems and property damage. Research has
found that people who participate in trapping do so for many reasons.
The most commonly listed reasons are family tradition, wildlife
management, and income. An important observation has been that
in today's society trapping has often been referred to as a form
of "recreation" or a "sport". However, the
body of research shows that these terms do not do justice to the
importance of the activity.
Whether being conducted by aboriginal trappers in Canada and Alaska
or by outdoorsmen in suburban or rural areas of the lower forty-eight
states, the value of these people is that they perform a necessary
function for themselves and society. For many, this is an essential
part of their life. It is an activity which links them to nature
and the land. With proper wildlife resources, people today can
still choose to participate in this lifestyle, which has been
practiced since the beginning of time. This is a unique opportunity
for people in the United States and Canada because this lifestyle
cannot be practiced throughout most of Europe and the rest of
the industrialized world.
Even though trapping is a legal part of the lifestyle of many
in the U.S. and Canada it is not without controversy. This controversy
is embedded in the beliefs of those who promote animal rights.
"Animal rights" are based on personal values and philosophy,
while the agenda for "animal welfare" is based on science.
The "animal rights" and "animal welfare" agendas
represent entirely different perspectives on human and animal
coexistence.
"Animal welfare" advocates believe that human use of
animals is appropriate as long as practical measures are taken
to ensure that human use does not cause any undue pain or suffering
to animals. Wildlife biologists and all responsible trappers and
hunters are firm supporters of "animal welfare".
"Animal rights" advocates oppose any human use of animals
because they believe animals have the same rights as humans, and
therefore should not be used, eaten or owned by people. The primary
concern of "animal welfare" advocates is the well being
of animals. The primary concern of "animal rights" advocates
is the moral obligation of people. The concern for animals is
actually a secondary concern for "animal rights" advocates.
Professional wildlife biologists support "animal welfare".
The International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (IAFWA)
adopted the following position in 1989. "The IAFWA acknowledges
that humans have an inseparable relationship with all other parts
of the natural world. Furthermore, humanity is answerable to another
set of laws and concepts that is uniquely a product of human society.
Animals cannot be subject to those laws and concepts and therefore
do not have the rights of humans. It is agreed; nonetheless, that
animal welfare is a realistic and desirable concept, which we
support. Humanity does have responsibilities to animals; ensure
ecological integrity, preserve genetic diversity and sustain species
and ecosystems. All animals use other animals for their existence.
The responsible human use of animals is natural and appropriate."
Wildlife biologists have concerns about the implication of the
"animal rights" philosophy. Millions of acres of wildlife
habitat have been acquired, protected and managed for wildlife
by public and private natural resource management agencies. Much
of this has been made possible through funds generated by consumptive
users of wildlife who collectively have a stake in the preservation
of wildlife resources. Under the "animal rights" agenda,
there would be no wildlife management, and subsequently, many
species of wildlife would decline or become extinct without protection
afforded by their management. Populations of other species could
explode, increasing human-wildlife conflicts.
As our society becomes more urban, we become removed from natural
systems and the processes that function within them. Our understanding
and appreciation of those natural processes have decreased over
time. We no longer have to harvest our own food, and as a result,
we do not see the death involved in processing meat or the habitat
loss, pesticide use, and death of animals that destroy crops and
livestock. The death of an individual animal is a normal, natural,
and regularly occurring event. Animal species have adapted reproductive
strategies to compensate for these natural losses. These reproductive
strategies evolved over millions of years of death causing factors,
including human predation. When a human uses a wild animal, that
death is not a wasted one. Animals have always provided the material
and spiritual support that maintains us as individuals and societies.
We must continue to support conservation efforts that ensure sustainable
use.
Wildlife agencies, as well as the public who trap, have long been
interested in developing and refining traps and trapping techniques
that improve the welfare of furbearers captured for research,
damage control, fur, and food. The goal has been to design traps
that will hold animals unharmed, or in the case of kill-type traps,
dispatch them as quickly as possible. Many new and improved models
have gradually replaced older designs. Trap research in North
America has been funded jointly by the government of Canada, The
International Fur Trade Federation, State and Provincial Wildlife
Departments, and The Fur Institute of Canada. Wildlife agencies
use the findings of these studies to assess and incorporate new
information into trapping regulations and trapper education programs.
While research has lead to entirely new trap designs for some
species, modification of existing kill traps and foothold traps
are also of great importance. Adjusting chain length, adding swivels
to the chain, adjusting pan tension, and replacing conventional
jaws with offset, laminated, or padded jaws can improve the welfare
of captured furbearers. Researchers continue to explore new and
innovative design possibilities.
Foothold traps are sometimes used to capture rare of endangered
species, unharmed, so that the animals can be reintroduced into
favorable habitats to re-establish healthy populations. The foothold
trap also plays an important role in protecting the health and
viability of many established or newly re-established populations
of rare and endangered species. The foothold trap is an important
management tool for protecting rare endangered species from undesirable
levels of predation. There are dozens of endangered or threatened
plant, reptile, bird, and mammal species in the U.S., which are
being protected and managed through the use of foothold traps.
The target animals that are trapped during these operations to
reduce habitat damage or predation on the rare species are either
removed or relocated after capture.
A trap is a mechanical device that, when it is set, will close
only on objects heavy enough to disengage the trigger. Those who
are unfamiliar with trapping may assume that traps are not selective.
They think that they will catch anything. Trappers and wildlife
researchers set their traps in such a way that only the species
or even the individual animal they are targeting is likely to
be captured. There are eight key techniques trappers use to insure
their trap sets are selective. They include location, type of
trap used, size of trap used, pan tension, lure or bait used,
position of trigger, trap set, and timing.
Where a trap is located determines to a great extent what animals
are likely to enter it. Traps may be located underwater, in trees,
near den sites, and travel routes. The use of certain types of
traps virtually eliminates the chance that certain species will
be caught. The size of the trap determines to some extent what
animals it will catch. Pan tension is adjustable on most non-kill
traps. As a result, traps are often set so that only relatively
heavy animals like coyotes and beaver area caught. Specific baits
and lures, often used in conjunction with trap sets, are attractive
to specific species of animals. Lures in the form of urine or
scent gland extracts are more attractive to the species from which
the scent is derived. Trigger configuration on kill-type traps
can be set to allow non-target animals to pass through without
setting off the trap. How a trap is placed influences what animals
will be caught. Stepping sticks, rocks, or scat placed around
the trap can prevent some species from approaching a set. Finally,
the timing of when the traps are set during the trapping season
can influence which gender and what age the animals may be. These
same elements, all of which make traps highly selective in terms
of what they will catch are used not only in fur harvest trapping,
but also in the use of live traps for research and conservation
programs. These methods are also used for problem animal control
and property damage situations.
Wildlife biologists spend a lot of time and effort monitoring
wildlife populations, mapping critical habitats, and acquiring
and managing land for habitat conservation. They set up laws by
which trappers must abide. These laws are known as regulated harvest.
Regulated harvest helps to maintain wildlife populations, which
in turn decreases the potential for negative interaction between
humans and wildlife. Regulated harvest provides a local, healthy,
organic, source of food with minimal impacts to other resources.
Many of the other sources of food require changes in wildlife
habitat. Regulated harvest helps to maintain some populations
in ecological balance with their habitat. Many of these animals
are increasing due to human changes to the landscape like loss
of predators, and the change of forestland to suburban or agricultural
habitats. Regulated harvest helps to protect declining, rare,
threatened, or endangered species by targeting specific predators
that are negatively affecting recovery efforts. Regulated harvest
also provides an opportunity for millions of people to interact
with nature and the great outdoors.
In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt ordered that a small shell
and mangrove covered island in Florida's Indian River be forever
protected as a "preserve and breeding grounds for native
birds". His mission was clear. He wanted to protect the island's
pelicans from poachers and plume hunters. With this first sanctuary
the National Wildlife Refuge System was formed. The system now
encompasses more than 92 million acres in the United States and
is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The mission
of the National Wildlife Refuge System is:
"To preserve a national network of lands and waters for the
conservation and management of fish, wildlife, and plant resources
of the United States for the benefit of present and future generations."
Regulated trapping has been conducted as part of the sustainable
use of wildlife resources, as well as an important part of refuge
management programs for many years. An extensive evaluation of
refuge management programs was conducted by the service in 1997
documenting the importance that trapping has had on the refuges.
The study examined mammal-trapping programs on 281 national wildlife
refuges during the five-year period. The service report stated,
"The report demonstrates the importance of trapping as a
professional wildlife management tool" and "mammal trapping
also provided important benefits for public health and safety
and recreational, commercial and subsistence opportunities for
the public during the period."
The (NWRS) came up with eleven reasons for trapping on refuges.
They are in order of importance: recreation/commercial/subsistence,
facilities protection, migratory bird predation, research, surveys/monitoring,
habitat protection, endangered species predation, public safety,
feral animal control, population management, and disease control.
Trapping activities on refuges are regulated and the people who
participate are required to be licensed and follow many other
rules as well those which ensure these activities are done properly.
Enforcement officers and biologists monitor activities to ensure
trapping is done in accordance with existing laws.
After researching the benefits of regulated trapping to the public
I believe even more strongly that we should be allowed to continue
to trap for years to come. Trapping helps control the populations
of many kinds of animals. It is also a more cost effective way
to manage wildlife, when done with the cooperation of the government
and the public, than any other proven method except for disease
and starvation. Thousands of trappers trap for their livelihood
each year. Scott Hartman, the former President of the National
Trappers Association and its current Director of Membership and
Affiliate Relations has said, "For North America's more than
one-half million trappers, the purpose of trapping varies - for
assisting wildlife biologists and furbearer studies, to population
and disease control, protection against soil erosion, and for
food, clothing and income. And yet, thanks to good management
practices, furbearers are more numerous in North America today
than 100 years ago. The public needs to know that there is no
trapping of endangered species and that we continue to research
and encourage the use of the most effective and humane techniques.
Trapping has been an integral part of our American Heritage, and
we intend to see that is continues to contribute to abundant wildlife
and sound management programs."
I could not put it any better myself. Trapping has been a part
of our American heritage. The pursuit of furbearers had a significant
part in the development of our country in its formative years.
It is interesting that furbearers helped shape America into what
it is today. If we continue to employ good management practices
we should be able to trap effectively for years to come, and everyone
will benefit. ### Justin Tyler Walters, 3060 Panther Dr.,
New Lexington, OH 43764
Editor's Note: The OSTA wishes to congratulate
Justin Tyler Walters, who is this year's winner of the $500.00
"Charles L. Dobbins Memorial Scholarship"! You have
just read his winning essay on the topic of "What are the
Benefits of Regulated Trapping to the Public?
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